Press Releases

Majority of Britons find the price of a pint unaffordable

Press Release

Monday 6 August 2018

Majority of Britons find the price of a pint unaffordable

The majority of people in Britain could be struggling to afford drinking beer in pubs, with new research by YouGov[1] revealing that 56% of people surveyed who expressed an opinion believe the price of a pint of beer in a pub in the UK is unaffordable.

Pub pint prices are continuing to rise, with a third of the cost of a pint now made up of various taxes including Beer Duty, Business Rates and VAT. Pubs are very often at the centre of local communities, playing a key role in supporting personal wellbeing and combating loneliness, but rising prices are driving consumers out of pubs, putting them at risk of closure.

CAMRA is extremely concerned that there is no end in sight, with the Government planning to increase the tax paid by pubs in the November Budget. Current plans will see Beer Duty rise by around 2p per pint, and pubs are set to lose £1,000 in Business Rate Relief, increasing pressure on pubs and driving away consumers.

CAMRA's National Chairman Jackie Parker said: "It's no surprise that most people are finding pub pints unaffordable, given the tax burden they're facing. Beer drinkers will naturally look to more cost-effective ways to enjoy a drink, such as buying from off-licences and supermarkets for home consumption.

"The result is incredibly detrimental to our local communities and to our own personal connectivity. Having a good local makes people happier, better-connected and more trusting. Furthermore, pubs help bring communities together and support the local economy. The reality is that there are very few places that can replicate the benefit provided by our nation's pubs, and once they're gone, they're gone forever."

Ends

Media Contact:

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About the survey

[1] All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,070 adults, of which 1,473 expressed an opinion. Fieldwork was undertaken between 6th-9th July 2018. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

The YouGov survey asked: "In your opinion, is the price of a pint of beer in a pub in the UK affordable or unaffordable, or is it about right? (Please select the option that best applies)". Of all the UK adults who responded (excluding those who responded ‘don't know'), 2% said very affordable, 16% said fairly affordable, 26% said about right, 45% said fairly unaffordable and 11% said very unaffordable.

About the Great British Beer Festival

The Great British Beer Festival is one of the biggest, most exciting and well-known events in the beer and cider world. Organised by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and run almost

entirely by volunteers, it brings hundreds of real ales, international beers and real ciders and perries under the iconic Olympia roof. Tickets can be purchased online: http://gbbf.org.uk.

CAMRA is an independent, voluntary organisation which campaigns for real ale, cider and perry as well as protecting and promoting community pubs and clubs and fighting for consumer rights. We have over 190,000 members across the country who work to champion beer and cider drinkers as well as pub and club goers.